http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_15553679?nclick_check=1Man who shot at CHP officers has a long and violent criminal history
By Kristin Bender and Sean Maher
Oakland Tribune
Posted: 07/19/2010 06:53:49 PM PDT
Updated: 07/20/2010 08:06:24 AM PDT
OAKLAND — Byron Christopher Williams, who police say might have been headed on a violent crime spree when he fired at CHP officers Saturday night, has done time in California and Washington and knew he was facing a third strike when he was stopped Saturday night carrying three firearms, authorities said. snip
He was arrested here early Sunday morning on suspicion of attempted homicide after a gunbattle with CHP officers following a traffic stop. Williams was injured in the gunbattle and remains at an Oakland hospital in stable condition, police said Monday. snip
The 45-year-old Groveland man has a history of anti-government and anti-corporation behavior, and a deep-rooted hate for liberal causes, authorities said. He reportedly rantedt one point about "the way Congress was railroading through all these left-wing agenda items," according to published reports. snip
Police said Williams was wearing body armor and was armed with a high-powered hunting rifle, a pistol and a shotgun at the time of the stop. He had a three-ring binder, recovered from the truck he was driving by a bomb squad robot, with the word "California" scrawled across its cover. Authorities have declined to say what was in the binder.
CHP spokesman Sgt. Trent Cross said there is "no doubt" Williams was on his way to do a "very serious crime against either someone or a group of people."